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GLOBSEC and FES ROCPE Cooperative Security Intiative (CSI) presents 18 questions to improve European security at the 2019 OSCE Ministerial

Recognized experts convene in Bratislava to showcase to OSCE Participating States delegations their 18 questions on how to improve inter-state relations and enhance security cooperation, 5-6 December, 2019

BRATISLAVA (December 5, 2019) –

Exploring how to get along with neighbours that you do not trust and cultivating informal spaces for dialogue among both states and citizens were some of the questions presented by experts of the Cooperative Security Initiative (CSI) at the 2019 OSCE Ministerial hosted by the outgoing Slovak Chairmanship. Since the launch of the CSI at the GLOBSEC 2019 Bratislava Forum, CSI experts from across the OSCE area, have held two working group meetings and assembled a collection of 18 questions designed to help restore stability as well as predictability to the European security landscape. Throughout the process, experts have engaged in an open and frank intellectual debate about the current security challenges and considered the various policy solutions and diplomatic avenues to overcome them. In addition to presenting the cooperation framework and 18 questions to heads of delegations and permanent representatives, the CSI side event looked to bring attention to the direness of the current security situation and prompt governments to act to avoid any further escalation and even worse, conflict.

“I am glad that this initiative doesn’t allow us to stick to our usual platitudes – and instead challenges us to think about how we can tangibly put our principles and commitments into practice,” said Slovak Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairperson-in-Office Miroslav Lajčák. ”I like the idea of asking questions. The challenge is now to find the answers. I hope that this initiative can also spark some new ideas in 2020: so that we use the year for looking forward, and not only looking back. In that respect, I hope that experts and ideas from CSI can piggy-back on events related to the anniversaries of the Charter of Paris and the Astana Summit,” added OSCE Secretary General Thomas Greminger.

“The CSI is a desperately needed platform to reconsider the utility of informal diplomatic spaces when seeking sustainable solutions in order to offset any further deterioration of European security. With our partner FES ROCPE we are making good progress towards this objective with our 18 questions where more work is needed to generate the right answers“ said Ratislav Káčer, Chairman, GLOBSEC. Reinhard Krumm, head of the FES Regional Office for Cooperation and Peace in Europe added, ”engaging is our duty in turbulent and unpredictable times, when almost all of the arms reduction agreement and treatises are gone conflict simmering in Europe, there is an urgency to return to cooperative security.”

Further expert research work and exchanges will continue into 2020, where the CSI is looking forward to building a constructive relationship with the incoming Albanian Chairmanship in anticipation of delivering the final report at the 2020 Bratislava Forum from 21-23 May.

Taking place 5-6 December, the Ministerial Council is composed of the Ministers for Foreign Affairs of the OSCE participating States and is the central decision-making and governing body of the Organization. Summit meetings at the level of Heads of State or Government are the highest decisionmaking body of the OSCE

About GLOBSEC

GLOBSEC is a global think-tank committed to enhancing security, prosperity and sustainability in Europe and throughout the world. Its mission is to influence the future by generating new ideas and solutions for a better and safer world. We believe we can change the world by putting together the right stakeholders at the right time for a free exchange of ideas.

About FES Regional Office for Cooperation and Peace in Europe (FES ROCPE)

The goal of FES ROCPE in Vienna is to come to terms with the challenges of peace and security in Europe since the collapse of the Soviet Union a quarter of a century ago. The cooperative security order of Europe based until recently on the Helsinki Final Act (1975), the Paris Charter (1990) and the Astana Commemorative declaration towards a security community (2010), is under threat. For these reasons, FES ROCPE supports the revival of a peace and security dialogue and the development of new concepts in the spirit of solution-oriented policy. The aim is to bring scholars and politicians from Eastern Europe, Russia, the EU and the US together to develop a common approach to tackle the challenges, to reduce tensions and to aim towards conflict resolution. For more information please visit www.fes-vienna.org.

Media Contacts

GLOBSEC // press@globsec.org
FES ROCPE // info@fes-vienna.org